Sheet-conveying apparatus



Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,560

A. HORMEL SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1923 a Sheets-Shet 1 Q ,4 o P rl Q IN VENTOR WWW A TTORNE Y .Azzyasi flormel.

Nov. 24, I A. HORMEL I I snsm' CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1923 3:5hee'ys-Si1eet '2 JILL IN VEN TOR 04a gas 2? Hormel A T15: 3 BY A TTORNE Y A; HORMEL Filed Feb. 8. 1923 3 Sheets -Sheet 5 IN VENTOR fiagzzsi fiormez A TTORNE Y Nov. '24, 1925- SHEET c orwm ms APPARATUS invention.

'suitable means such as the fan 11.

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES AUGUST IIORMEL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SHEET-COIIVEYING AIPARA'IUS.

Application filed. February To all whom it may concern:

Be known that 1, Answer HoRMnL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and slightest touch marring the surface. For

this reason the plate is supported at one side or face only, the printed or wet side being always free from contact during the entire drying and handling operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 have illustrated in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section, parts being broken away, a suitable form of plate conveying apparatus or drying oven embodying an application of my Fig. 2 is an end View looking from left to right at Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a frame throwing device adapted for inaugurating the turn of the frame around the end of the conveyor as hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 4- is an enlarged detail of one of the frames or trays. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the endless chain conveyor mechanism and frames or trays attached thereto. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in two views at right angles of the pivotal base of one of the frame or tray standards, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of a spring latch device.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, 7 indicates the oven provided with suitable air inlet holes such as 8, the said walls being preferably made in sections such as 9. 10 indicates an air duct at the top of the oven to which air may be supplied by any The products of combustion pass upwardly through the oven and heat the air in the duct 10 which is thrown down by the fans 12 mixing with the products of combustioi and escaping through the fines 13 which Serial. No. 617,801.

may be controlled by dampers such as 14 and which communicate with the stack 15, the fans 12 being driven by .pinions such as 16,17, the latter being mounted upon suitable countershaft such as 18.

The plates or lithographed sheets to be conveyed and dried are preferably mounted upon the endless conveyor 19 at the left of the oven and travel rightwardly into the oven, said endless conveyor being mounted upon pulleys such as 20 upon shafts such as 21 which also carry sprockets and a sprocket chain 22, the shaft 23 also carrying a beveled pinion 24 meshing with the beveled pinion 25 upon the drive shaft 26 provided with pulley driven belt 2'? from the power shaft 28. This drive shaft 26 also is provided with a worm 29 adapted to mesh with a worm wheel 30 upon the shaft 31 which also carries the sprocket 32 carrying the chain This chain is shown to better advantage in Fig. 5 and in combination with the frames or trays mounted thereupon form an important part of my invention. A plan view of a tray or frame is shown to better advantage in Fig. 4, and comprises fiat steel members bent substantially as shown and secured at the centre as indicated by the rivets 34, the outer legs 35 being connected to the free ends of the centre members by the yokes 36 at one end and forming the extensions 3? at the other end. The exten sions 37 are preferably provided with socket terminals shown to better advantage in Fig. 6, the sockets 38 terminating at the bottom in rings such as 39 adapted to be secured by the pins such as 40 of the chain 33 allowing the socket and the frame secured thereto to swing pivotally upon said chain, and 11 indicates a tiangular spur or flange at the base of the socket for supporting the printed sheets as indicated at 42.

The free ends of the yokes 36 at the opposite ends of the frames serve as bearings for pins such as 43 and upon said pins are mounted suitable links 4 1' having wheels or pulleys 15 rotatably mounted in the opposite end thereof for engagement with a guide hereinafter referred to.

The printed sheets of metal 46 are placed upon the conveyor 19 with the wet face up and are lifted successively by the frames and are carried upwardly and rightwardly through the drier extending substantially as shown at the left in Fig. 5 until the same Eli) reach the endless conveyor 47 such as a belt. This revolves upon the pulleys 48 and 49, the former being secured upon the fixed frame 50 which is provided with a threaded projection 51 for the bolt 52. The other pulley 49 is mounted upon the block 53 which slides within the fixed support 50, and the projection of which may be controlled by the bolt 52, thereby regulating the tension of the belt or conveyor 47, and 54 indicates brackets carrying the guide frames 55 which are projected with the pulley 19 when necessary. 56 indicates a substantially straight guide communicating with a curved guide 55 as shown so that the free ends of the frames or trays pass around in contact with the curved guides 55 and from there contact with the horizontal guide 50.

The device shown enlarged in Fig. 3 is intended for throwing the frames or trays forwardly around the right end of the conveyor at the proper moment so as to properly discharge the printed sheet therefrom to the frame next ahead. This consists of a cam wheel 57 upon the shaft 58 of the pulley .9 and said shaft also carries the lever 59 pivotally thereupon, at the lower end of which is pivotally connected the link 60 which in turn is pivotally connected to the rod 61 pivoted at 62 and coimectedwith the spring 63 as shown. Upon the free end of the rod 61 is the pulley 64 which rides upon the face of the cam 57 and in the upper free end of the lever 59 is a spring projected catch 65 shown to better advantage in Fig. 7 so that at predetermined moments controlled by the face of the cam 57 and roller 64, the latch 65 moves forwardly throwing the frame next adjacent to it rightwardly around the sprocket pin upon which it is mounted. At the sametime, the sheet upon that frame has ridden upwardly upon the conveyor belt 47 and is ready to slide over the same downwardly in the direction of the curved guide 55, but by this forward pitch of the frame from the catch 65 the upper end of the sheet is thrown forwardly causing the lower edge to engage behind the proprinted surface of the metal which may yet be moist is kept away from the frame or tray, thereby preventing possible smudging or scratching of the samefand as the conveyor continues to move back leftwardly the rollers 45 at'the ends of the frames or trays after leaving the inner face of the curved guide, 55 ride upon the horizontal guide 56 continuing to carry the sheet until the extreme left-ward end ofthe horizontal guide 56 is reached where it bends downwardly as indicated at 67, and at which point the now thoroughly dried sheet may be removed and if not removed will shortly thereafter be dropped free of the tray or frame, leaving the tray clear to receive the ection 66 upon the link 44. In this way the next sheet brought in position by the conveyor 19.

Also upon the shaft 58, and at opposite sides of the frames it will be observed I have provided slidable discs such as 68, each having a hub such as 69 and annular recess such as 7 O engaged by forks 71 having threaded free ends 72 engaged by nuts such as 73, 7 1 indicating a compression spring between the hub 69 and the wall 9 of the heater, so that by adjustment of the nut 7 3 upon the threads 72 of the forks 71, the discs 68 can be brought into position to centralize the sheets 46, and if one of the .sheets A6 become slightly out of alignment, it will by striking the peripheral flange 7 5 be brought back into alignment again by the discs 68, thereby insuring a straight path of movement of the sheets.

Of course it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a drying chamber of the class described, a conveyor at the front for feeding printed sheets with the wet side up, an endless conveyor within said chamber for carrying said sheets substantially vertically with the wet side always facing in the same direction, said endless conveyor having a series of frames with pivoted toes at the free ends thereof.

2. In a drying chamber of the class described, a conveyor at the front for feeding printed sheets with the wet side up, an endless conveyor within said chamber for carrying, said sheets substantially vertically with the wet side always facing in the same direction, said endless conveyor having a series of frames with pivoted toes at the free ends thereof, and in combination therewith, means for throwing said frames around the rear end of said endless conveyor at predetermined moments.

3. In a drying chamber of the class described, a conveyor at the front for feeding printed sheets with the wet side up, an encless conveyor within said chamber for carrying said sheets substantially vertically with the wet side always facing in the same direction, said endless conveyor having a series of frames with pivoted toes at the free ends thereof, and in combination with opposite ends of said frames, angular flanges for engaging the edges of the sheets to be dried.

4L. An endless conveyor and pivoted frames thereupon for. a drying even, said frames having members above the pivotal supports thereof to keep the same at the proper angle of separation.

5. An endless conveyor and pivoted frames thereupon for a drying oven, said frames having members above the pivotal supports thereof to keep the same at the proper angle of separation, said spurs being also adapted to keep sheets in position with reference to said frames.

6. An endless conveyor and pivoted frames thereupon for a drying oven, said frames having members above the pivotal supports thereof, said endless conveyor comprising a standard link chain the pins thereof serving as the pivotal supports for said frames, said spurs being adapted to partly support said frames when leaning in one direction.

7. An endless conveyor and pivoted frames tl ereupon for a drying oven, said frames having spurs substantially adjacent the base thereof to keep the same at the proper angle of separation, said endless c-::-n veyor comprising a standard link chain the pins thereof serving as the pivotal. supports for said frames, said frames being adapted to be supported by the inside links when leaning in one direction, and adapted to be supported by the outside links when leaningin the opposite direction.

8. An endless conveyor and pivoted frames thereupon for a drying even, said frames having spurs substantially adjacent the base thereof to keep the same at the proper angle of separation, said endless conveyor comprising a standard link chain the pins thereof serving as the pivotal supports for said frames, said frames being adapted to be supported by the inside links when leaning in one direction, and adapted to be supported by the outside links when leaning in the opposite direction, said frames being partly supported by said spurs when sup ported by said outside links, and being supported by said inside links independently of said spurs.

9. in an endless sheet conveyor of the class described, pivoted frames projecting therefrom against which the sheets may be car ried, means for causing said pivoted frames to swing outwardly and downwardly at the end of said conveyor thereby releasing the sheets thereupon, said sheet being adapted to' drop substantially vertically from its supporting frame to the next preceding supporting frame upon the return side of said conveyor.

10. In an endless sheet conveyor of the class described, pivoted frames projecting therefrom against which the sheets may be carried, means for causing said pivoted frames to swing outwardly and downwardly at the end of said conveyor thereby releasing the sheets thereupon, said sheet being adapt ed to drop substantially vertically from its supporting frame to the next preceding supporting frame upon the return side of said conveyor, and in combination with the return end of said conveyor, means for lifting said sheets from the base support of said frames and carrying the lower edge of the same forwardly prior to the drop of the same.

11. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for sliding said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets.

12. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel. with said supports, and means for sliding said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined. side of each of said sheets, said supports having laterally projecting base portions for dete mining the angle thereof when passing over said conveyor, and means for controlling the angle of said supports when passing under said conveyor. I

13. in a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted. upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said. supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comgrising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support.

14. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfaiened sheets substantially parallel with d supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support, and engaging means upon the outer ends of said supports for retaining said sheets after the same have slid as afore said.

15. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an end rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support, and engaging means upon the outer ends of said supports for retaining said sheets after the same has slid as aforesaid, and guide means for retaining said supports at a predetermined angle for holding said sheets.

1.6. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for t'ansferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support, and means for preventing said sheets from shifting laterally.

17. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support, and means for preventing said sheets from shifting laterally, said last mentioned means comprising adjustable discs at opposite sides of the path of travel of said sheets.

18. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the preceding support, and engaging means upon the outer ends of said supports for retaining said sheets after the same have slid as aforesaid, said retaining means also serving to separate said frames prior to the turning of said sheets.

19. In a device of the class described, a conveyor, supports pivotally mounted upon said conveyor, means for supporting unfastened sheets substantially parallel with said supports, and means for transferring said sheets from above to below said conveyor without contacting with a predetermined side of each of said sheets, said means for transferring said sheets comprising an endless rotating member adapted to engage and shift the lower edge of each sheet so as to allow the same to slide over and downwardly past said member to the back side of the pre-- ceding support, and engaging means upon the outer ends of said supports for retaining said sheets after the same have slid as aforesaid, said retaining means also serving to separate said frames prior to the turning of said sheets, said retaining and separating means including rollers at the ends thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature. I

AUGUST HORMEL. 

